Australian Hollywood actress, Nicole Kidman, has received knocks from the Association of Professional Flight Attendants for her new ad campaign with Etihad Airways.
In an open letter to Kidman, president of the American union representing 25,000 flight attendants, Laura Glading, wrote that the sponsorship deal was at odds with the Oscar winner’s role as a United Nations Women’s Goodwill Ambassador.
But Etihad has rejected the allegation, saying its commitment to its employees is one of the airline’s top priorities.
The union has waged a public campaign against Etihad and other United Arab Emirates airlines claiming they “are well-known in our industry for their discriminatory labour practices and deplorable treatment of female employees”.
“Last month, on March 8, International Women’s Day, you said, ‘I envisage a world where all women and girls have equal opportunities and rights … Now is the time to step it up’,” Glading wrote in the letter to Kidman.
“Later that very same week, we saw that you had begun appearing in a new campaign for Etihad, a company that the Wall Street Journal has publicly reported ‘may fire women if they become pregnant’ and forces flight attendants to live in ‘confinement’ in secure compounds.
“These are the types of conditions that APFA fought to eradicate decades ago in the United States.”
Kidman stars in Etihad’s new ‘Hollywood Glamour’ global brand campaign.
Etihad premiered a new TV commercial last month starring and narrated by Kidman, which was shot onboard the airline’s new flagship A380 plane.
“At Etihad Airways, we have become a global, award-winning employer because we value our employees and we treat them with dignity and respect,” an Etihad spokesperson told AAP.
Etihad says it fully supports its cabin crew during and after pregnancies.
“When a cabin crew member informs Etihad of a pregnancy she is provided with appropriate ground duties for the duration of the pregnancy, remains fully compensated and engaged on the ground and is entitled to paid maternity leave if more than one year’s service is completed, according to the airline.
“Our cabin crew are then able to return to their flying role at the end of their maternity leave period,” the spokesperson said.
